Dear Editor – I read with interest and a little dismay at the continue debate by our elites regarding Dr Jimmy Rodger’s yet undeclared intention to stand for national election and who according to Mr. Forau will be the best PM.
Unfortunately I do not buy the PMO argument, which was critically responded to by Mr. Muaki (SST No: 5619), neither I say Jimmy is for PM based on very fluid politics in Solomon Islands where the majority seems to support one who gets more goods and money for themselves.
However as the former supervisor of Jimmy and one who encouraged him to apply for a SPC (now Pacific Community (PC) job in 1994, I am proud and overjoyed that Jimmy performed exceptionally well his tasks as Director General of PC for two terms serving the countries and peoples of the South Pacific including Solomon Islands. I will be the first to congratulate him if he decides to stand and win in the coming national election.
But, friends, hold on! Aren’t you jumping the gun? Let us respect Jimmy and also our legal requirements. Let the election date be announced to start campaigning as required by our appropriate legal instruments. Then let Jimmy declare publicly his decision before discussing him in the media and he can do this by his formal nomination when the time comes.
At the moment Jimmy is a private person and not a public person deserving public scrutiny. Clearly the concerned citizens are starving for good leadership to lead with honesty, respect and credibility for the betterment of all Solomon Islanders and not just family members and cronies.
How this country is governed most times since independence,I and many citizens always share the serious concerns of Mr. Forau, Mr. Muaki and recently by Sumaka (Sunday Star 21/9). This is despite the budget speech eloquently delivered by the Minister for Finance (my great respect to him)in last Parliament meeting claiming everything is progressively well, all we see in the nation are poor state of service delivery, lack of real economic growth, expansion of poverty and increase social disharmony.
One does not need to go far to see evidences. The daily paper is full of reports of court cases of young people trying to make ends meet thus steal due to very high unemployment. Honiara is town of squatters because people, instead of continuing to live in poverty at villages, choose to come to town looking for opportunity.
How can one say health service delivery is well when Kira Kira Hospital has been closed since July 2014! Even clinics close to Honiara lack basic medicines, you guess the state of distant rural clinics! I do not need to go further and the interested just go to rural communities, like I often do and you will see for yourself.
Sadly national leaders instead approved themselves more lucrative pay and benefits drying up money from tax payers to fund basic essential services to people. One can only hope and pray that the next national election will be a turning point as I agree with Forau, this country blessed with wealth of resources, dismally suffers by poor performance of our top leaders.
On the issue of debate by our elites, please give Jimmy the respect and chance to make his intention known to the nation before discussing him in the media. Be cautious there is a phenomenon known as ‘counter productivity of an act’.
In a previous national election a candidate (then outgoing MP) was so confident of returning that he claimed himself most suitable as the next PM during his campaign. He lost the election to the most unsuspecting candidate. If counter productivity of his act caused the demise of this former MP, on the same token you might be doing Jimmy a disservice in discussing him publicly before he declares his intention.
N. Kere
Ranadi
